A display apparatus, includes a laser light source for emitting a light beam; a beam expander for expanding the light beam; a spatial light modulator; beam shaping optics for shaping the expanded laser beam to provide uniform illumination of the spatial light modulator, the beam shaping optics including a fly's eye integrator having an array of lenslets; and a moving diffuser located in the laser beam between the laser light source and the spatial light modulator.

Laser projection display system

An automatic analyzing apparatus for effecting chemical analyses for various sample liquids such as blood, urine, and the like, comprising a sample delivery pump for metering a sample liquid into a reaction cuvette, a reagent delivery pump for delivering to the reaction cuvette a given amount of a given reagent selected from a plurality of reagents contained in a reagent cassette, to form a test liquid, a feed mechanism for successively supplying reaction cuvettes along a circular reaction line, a plurality of photometering sections arranged along the reaction line for effecting a plurality of photometric and/or nephelometric and/or fluorometric measurements for each test liquid at different time instances to produce a plurality of photometric results, and circuitry for receiving the photometric results and selecting therefrom given quantitative analytical data of a given test item.

Automatic analyzing apparatus

An exhaust port assembly comprising a conduit carries a flow of gas. A vent assembly (62, 102, 134) having a fixed exhaust area is provided on the conduit for venting a flow of exhaust gas from within the conduit to ambient atmosphere. The vent assembly is configured so as to minimize noise associated with the flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere, diffuse the flow of exhaust gas passing to ambient atmosphere over a relatively large area, and minimize the area occupied by the venting assembly on the conduit.

Exhaust port assembly for a pressure support system

An improved method and apparatus for measuring the relative reflectance spectra of an observed sample (3) and method and apparatus for autofocussing the sample (3). A broadband visible and ultraviolet beam (42) is split into a sample beam (46) and a reference beam (48). The sample beam (46) is reflected off the surface of the sample (3), and the spectrum of the reflected sample beam (46) is compared to the spectrum of the reference beam (48) to determine the relative reflectance spectrum of the sample (3). A video camera (96) is provided for viewing the sample (3). The autofocus system has a course-focus mode and a fine-focus mode. In the course-focus mode, the sample (3) is focused when the centroid of the sample image is centered on a position sensitive detector (99). In the fine-focus mode, the sample is focused when the intensity of light reaching the detector (99) is minimized.

Broadband microspectro-reflectometer

In an optical instrument, a fiber optic probe is provided to irradiate a sample with visible NIR and ultraviolet light. Glass fibers carry the visible and NIR light to the probe from a visible and NIR light source and quartz fibers carry ultraviolet light to the probe from an ultraviolet source. Glass fibers carry visible and NIR light emanating from the sample to a spectrometer having a fixed grating and an array of photodetectors to receive the spectrum dispersed by the grating within the spectrometer housing. Amplifiers are also contained in the spectrometer housing severally connected to the photodetectors to amplify the output signals of the photodetectors. The probe is provided with a standard white sample pivotal into position to receive the light from the visible light source. A computer is programmed to provide automatic calibrating whenever the temperature within the housing changes more than a predetermined small amount. The automatic calibration is carried out by pivoting the white standard into position and computing calibration values from the resulting photodector outputs. Automatic calibration is also provided when the ratio of output signals from selected ones of the photodetectors changes by more than a predetermined small percentage.

Spectrometer with combined visible and ultraviolet sample illumination

A spectrum analyzing system measures or analyzes the colorimetric properties of a test sample at a preselected wavelength or range of wavelengths within the ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared regions. The system includes a spectrophotometer provided with a wideband light source, optical devices providing a sample light path and a reference light path, a chopper wheel allowing light to be directed alternately along the sample and reference paths interspersed with dark periods during which no light travels along either path, a dispersion grating for dispersing the light from both paths, a series of neutral density filters for limiting to various degrees the amount of light traversing each path, and a linear array of photodiodes for detecting the dispersed light at different wavelengths. The system also includes an electronic control section including a programmable power supply for controlling the intensity of light from the light source whereby the combination of the use of the neutral density filters in conjunction with controlling the intensity of light from the light source can be used to operate the photodiode array to prevent operation thereof near the saturated and dark current levels, and means for scanning the photodiode array at high speeds during rotation of the chopper wheel to provide a high speed spectral readout.

Spectrum analyzing system with photodiode array

Defects in microcircuit patterns are sensed by illuminating the pattern with monochromatic collimated light. The illuminated pattern is imaged through a lens to produce substantially a twodimensional optical Fourier transform of the pattern at a plane on the output side of the lens. An optical filter (transparency) which includes substantially the negative of the Fourier transform of a defect-free specimen of the microcircuit is placed at the aforesaid plane to block the optical frequency components corresponding to the defect-free specimen. Light passing through the filter is processed to provide various indications of the pattern defects.

Pattern defect sensing using error free blocking spacial filter

A spectrophotometer includes an illumination section for illuminating a test sample, and a spectrometer portion for receiving light from a test sample and measuring the radiant energy thereof as a function of wavelength. The spectrometer includes an entrance slit and two stationary gratings for dispersing light admitted through the slit into two separate dispersed beams or spectra. The separate beams are focused upon linear arrays of photodiodes providing outputs proportional to the intensity of the light rays at the different wavelengths received thereby. The gratings produce different primary orders of dispersion so that the efficiency of operation thereof is relatively high across a relatively wide band of radiant energy.

Wide band grating spectrometer

In a textile color analyzer, a sample of textile is supported on the pad of an elevator mechanism that holds the sample against an instrument head. The head has an opaque housing provided with a chamber having an opening therein. A glass plate is mounted in the head and covers the opening and presses against the textile sample to provide a stable reference plane. The head includes an illuminating fiber optic bundle that directs light substantially perpendicular to the textile sample. A plurality of additional fiber optic bundles are mounted to receive diffuse light reflected from the sample. The elevator includes a pad of translucent polyethelene material that backs up the textile sample and takes on the color of the sample so that there are no adverse effects due to light showing through the sample and reflecting from the plate.

Apparatus for textile color analysis

An automatic handling system selectively conveys test samples to a test probe for analysis by an instrument. The test samples are contained in sample containers. A magazine contains sampler holders each of which contains sample containers. A transport system conveys the magazine so that the holders successively pass through an extraction station from where the holders can be taken from the magazine and placed back therein. The holders upon extraction are then conveyed past a test probe so that individual samples can be selectively presented to the probe.

Einar S Mathisen

Papers

Spectrum analyzing system with photodiode array

Pattern defect sensing using error free blocking spacial filter

Wide band grating spectrometer

Apparatus for textile color analysis

Automatic test sample handling system